Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-19
SUGAR BEET GROWING.
An Interesting Letter from Clar
Spreckels on the Subject.

An Interesting Letter from Claus
spreckels on the Subject.
Claus Spreckels has addressed a letter to
the Marysville Appeal in reply to request
OF its editor that Mr.. Spreckels deliver a
lecture in Marysyille, and in which b e
says:
My belief is that the culture of sugar
beets by the farmers of California will
prove very profitable branch of agricult-
nral industries. This is demonstrated bv
It's success in Europe where the farmers are
all in independent circumstances and own
an interest in the mills to which thew sell
their beets. This is the condition of affairs
that should like to see in California. and
think that the farmers and residents of a
district should subscribe literally toward
the erection of their mill
The cost oil mill or factory will he 5000 :
O0O, and 1t will consume $50 tons of beets
every twenty-four hours. There should he
not less than 1000 acres of land planted In
beets for each mill each year.
A size OF from thirty to forty acres is
required Tor the operation of each mill. TO
enable the quick unloading of a large num-
Der OF wagons, erection of machinery.
buildings, etc. The site for the factory
should be located as near as possible to a
railroad or TO your best water commurica-
ton with San Francisco. Close to the
mill there should be plenty of water,
WOOD (over sixty cords required every
twenty-tour hours and limestone. From
the annexed tables you will see the
quantity of beets that should be raised
from an acre of ground, according to the
producuyeness of the soil, and the dis
tance apart of the rows, and the beets in
each row. | estimate the lowest yalue of
the beets at 81 per ton and upwards accord
Ing to the quantity of sugar contained in
the beets. This will be determined by the
analysis, few beets being analyzed from
each load, SO as to form the basis upon
which that load is paid for. The farmers
Will also secure their portion of the tons
and pulp of the beets, which is invaluable
as feed for stock.
After the first mill is erected and has been
IN operation for one season l shall be per
fectly willing to show the books to anv-
body, that they may see the cost. expenses
and profits, hoping thereby to influence the
farmers to take stock in their mills.
About the middle of next month l shall
receive 20 tons OF the beet seed from Ger
many, and about 10000 pounds of this will
be reserved for free distribution among
farmers. The beets grown from this seed
and the soil in which they are grown
should be sent to me for analysis.
| think that from. the tables appended.
which show the estimated production of an
acre planted in beets, basing their value
at 81 per ton, farmers will easily be able to
ascertain whether sugar-beet culture is
likely to be more profitable than growing
wheat crops.
YIELD OF SUGAR BEETs.
One acre-20S7 feet square. Rows of
beets being about II inches distance. each
acre contains about 205 rows. Beets 6
inches distance in the rows, each row con-
tains about 40 beets, making an allowance
for irregularities-205 41O@S4, ,05O beets.
One acre produces from beets having an
average weight of l fb-S4, $50 fbs-42 tons
II tbs-105, ,o62 fbs-52l tons; II fbs-126..
075 fbs-63 tons; II fbs-147 .Os7 fbs-73I
tons; 2tbs-16S.100 fbs-S4 tons. Rows, -
inches beets, inches.
Acre-20S7 feet square. Rows of beets
being about II inches distance, each acre
contains 205 rows. Beets inches distance
in the rows, each row contains about 3IO
beets, making some allowance for irregula-
rites. 205x4l0-67, $50 beets.
One acre produces from beets having an
average weight of fb-67 $50 fbs-33a tons:
II tb-S4 537 tbs-42f tons; II biol .326
fbs-501 tons: 1atb-11S,2l2 fbs-59 tons
2 fb-135. 100 tbs-67l tons. Rows - inches.
Beets inches.